Schumer Seeks Funds to Protect Local Witnesses

By BRUCE LAMBERT

Published: April 4, 2006

Citing a rise in violence by gangs in suburbia and the intimidation of witnesses against them, United States Senator Charles E. Schumer is reviving a proposal to give local prosecutors money to create witness protection programs inspired by those used by federal law enforcement.

Speaking at a news conference here in Nassau County on Monday, Senator Schumer said his legislation would grant $90 million to local law enforcement across the nation to help safeguard crime victims and other witnesses who help the prosecution of criminals.

Currently, local prosecutors often say they do not have enough money. The Nassau district attorney, Kathleen M. Rice, who took office on Jan. 1, said that last year the agency spent $14,453 to protect witnesses.

Mr. Schumer said his bill would make Nassau eligible for as much as $470,943, which it could use to provide more police protection or to relocate witnesses if necessary.

Three years ago Mr. Schumer made a similar proposal, after the murder of a witness to a schoolyard shooting in Brooklyn drew national attention to a lack of protection for witnesses in some criminal cases.

Now the focus has expanded to the suburbs, where gangs have proliferated in recent years.

Law enforcement officials in Nassau County say that major cases have been dropped or reduced to lesser charges because victims and witnesses fear retaliation if they testify.

''It happens all the time -- that's the main reason why cases don't proceed,'' said Teresa Corrigan, chief of the street narcotics and gangs bureau of the district attorney's office.

Nassau officials cited three 2005 cases as examples, including one in which seven members of the Bloods gang were arrested for stabbings and other assaults. Though the main complainant cooperated with investigators at first, he and other witnesses ignored subsequent phone calls and letters from prosecutors, as well as grand jury subpoenas, and the case was dropped.

Federal witness protection programs, including elaborate changes of identity and relocation of families, are well publicized.

But critics say that local prosecutors often fall far short of those standards, and that witnesses who feel endangered may refuse to testify, allowing criminals to go free.

Ms. Rice, who joined in the news conference, endorsed his proposal.

Although Mr. Schumer's 2003 proposal won the backing of the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman at the time, Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, the measure was not enacted.